C. Phillip McIntyre began teaching at Blue Ridge High School in the fall of 1977. He taught there for six years, and in 1983 he began his tenure at James F. Byrens High School as Director of Bands. He is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, and a 1973 graduate of Parker High School. While at Parker, Phil was under the guidance of his teacher, mentor, and friend, James B. Senn. Phil received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1977 and a Master of Arts in Education degree in 1982 from Furman University. While at Furman University, he studied trombone under Dan. A. Ellis, Director of Bands at Furman University. In 1982 Phil was named Teacher of the Year at Blue Ridge High School. In 1998, Phil was again awarded Teacher of the Year at Byrnes High School. Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity in 1999 awarded Phil the Outstanding Bandmaster of the Year Award. In 1999 and 2002, Phil was awarded The National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence. He was also named one of the top twelve South Carolina Music Educators in the October 2000 issue of Teaching Music, a national music educator’s journal. In 2000 he was inducted into the S.C. Band Directors Association Hall of Fame. Phil is also a nine-time recipient of the Most Influential Teacher Award at Byrnes High School.
Since 1983 under his leadership, the band program at Byrnes has grown from one hundred twenty members to over three hundred fifty students at the high school. The James F. Byrnes Band program offers a variety of ensembles, including three concert bands, three jazz ensembles, a percussion ensemble, two indoor guards, and the nationally renowned Rebel Regiment marching band. The Symphonic Band is a class six ensemble that has received consistently Superior ratings at the SCBDA concert band festival. This ensemble has been featured in concert performances at the SCMEA In-service Conference in 1999, the Bands of America Regional Concert Band Festival in 2001, and the South Carolina Governor’s Inaugural ceremonies in 1991, 1995, and 1999. In 2002 the symphonic band was featured in a concert performance at the University of South Carolina band clinic, and in 2003, it performed at the National Adjudicator’s Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia.
The John Philip Sousa Foundation in December 2001 awarded the Sudler Shield for outstanding achievement in marching band to the Rebel Regiment. The Rebel Regiment has established a standard of excellence in performance that has been recognized and rewarded throughout the southeast. The band has marched in three of the most prestigious parades in the world: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1996 and 2002, the Presidential Inaugural Parade in 1985 and 2001, and The Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena in 2000. The Rebel Regiment has consistently been a Bands of America regional event finalist and a Semi-finalist at the Grand Nationals. The Rebel Regiment has won the AAA & AAAA State Championship on ten occasions since 1983. Phil is a member of Phi Beta Mu, American School Band Directors Association, SCBDA, Phi Mu Alpha, SCMEA, and MENC. Phil has served the SCBDA as President, Chairman of the Marching Committee, and Chairman of the Adjudication Committee. He has served on the executive board of the South Carolina Music Educators Association and as President of that organization. He has also served as President of the Theta chapter of Phi Beta Mu in South Carolina. Phil and his wife Wanda have been married since 1975 and have two daughters.